the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability
to work (for); to be employed (at); to serve (as); to act (as); to conduct a religious service
still more; even more; all the more; still less; even less
to raise; to elevate; to do up (one's hair); to fly (a kite, etc.); to launch (fireworks, etc.); to land (a boat); to show someone (into a room)
red bean paste; red bean jam; kudzu sauce; filling (of a dumpling, etc.); filling; stuffing
manners; behavior; behaviour
to steam (food, towel, etc.); to be hot and humid; to be sultry
yōkan; jellied dessert made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar
link; connection; filler; stopgap (job, budget, etc.); thickener (e.g. in cooking); thickening; hedging
flour; meal; powder; dust
to hurt; to ache; to feel a pain; to be injured; to be spoiled (e.g. food); to be damaged
affinity; compatibility; chemistry (between people)
to stop (moving); to come to a stop; to stop (doing, working, being supplied); to come to a halt; to alight; to perch on
bothersome; tiresome; bother to do
confectionery shop; candy store; sweet shop
congratulation; congratulations; celebration; congratulatory gift; present
red and white; colours for festive or auspicious occasions (colors); two teams; two groups; Kōhaku Uta Gassen; annual contest between male and female popular singers on New Year's Eve (sponsored and broadcast by NHK)
manjū; steamed yeast bun with filling
polite; courteous; careful; close; overly courteous; overly careful
cherry tree; cherry blossom; fake buyer; paid audience; hired applauder; horse meat
temple; shrine; hall; company; (arch.) front room
celebration; auspicious occasion
need; want; necessity; costs; expenses
to divide (into); to split (into); to share; to distribute; to distinguish; to discriminate; to break up (a fight)
waka; classic Japanese poem, esp. a tanka, often 31 morae
fool; idiot; dotage; senility; touched in the head (from); out of it (from)
person; -er; (arch.) expert; (arch.) geisha; (arch.) prostitute
confectionery; sweets; candy; cake
one long straight object (e.g. strand of hair, beam of light, wisp of smoke); a single bloodline; earnest; resolute; (arch.) ordinary; (arch.) common
advantage; benefit; profit; interest
period; epoch; the times; those days; oldness; ancientness
fresh off the farm; inexperienced
no matter what; whatever happens; in any situation; rain or shine
to take good care of; to treasure; to value; to hold dear; to prize; to cherish
at a moment's notice; readily
to ferry across (e.g. a river); to carry across; to lay across; to build across; to hand over; to hand in
to rage; to storm (at); to be furious; to enthuse; to speak enthusiastically; to speak with vigour
cake served with tea; teacake
peaceful; tranquil; calm; restful
this world; this life; world of the living
remaining; left-over; excess
to come off; to be removed; to disappear (of pain, a fever, etc.); to be caught; to be harvested; to be interpreted (as); to be taken (as)